Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are being managed under the terms of the U.S. District Court approved consent decree.Park visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and sea turtle nesting closures may occur until early November.Shorebird pre-nesting closures have already been established at the inlets, Cape Point, and South Beach.As soon as subsequent breeding activity is observed, the consent decree requires that automatic, non-discretionary buffers be implemented.

As of May 1, 2011, all Seashore beaches are closed to off-road vehicles between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in accordance with the court-ordered consent decree.The 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. prohibition on beach driving will remain in effect until November 15, 2011.

In addition, the annual seasonal closure of village beaches to off-road vehicle (ORV) use within the National Seashore goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2011.The beach driving speed limit is reduced from 25 mph to 15 mph in all locations open to ORV use, unless otherwise posted, from May 15 – September 15.The ORV closures are established in village beach areas that receive heavy pedestrian use, including areas adjacent to Coquina Beach and the villages of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

The Beach Access Report is issued every Thursday throughout the breeding season, and updated news will be reported weekly in bold, BLUE print.*All distances are approximate. The mileage is determined on a weekly basis using GIS data and is divided geographically by island this year.The weekly Beach Access Report is complemented by a Google Earth map, which is updated up to 5 times per week as access conditions change. The latest Google Earth beach access map can be viewed at:https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm.For more information, check the National Seashore's website at: https://www.nps.gov.

Note: Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice.On-site signage, rather than the Beach Access Report or Google Earth map,is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public.Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with "symbolic fencing" consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string, and flagging tape.Knowledge of tidal changes and caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park.Pets are strictly prohibited in resource protection areas.Elsewhere, pets must be physically restrained at all time on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. For more information, please contact: e-mail us or call 252-473-2111, ext. 148.

Bodie Island (Ramp 1 to Oregon Inlet; 6.0 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary: 3.2miles open to ORVs and pedestrians;1.2 miles open to pedestrians only;0.7 of a mile of limited access;0.9 of a mile closed to public access due to resource closures.Note: Green Island, southwest of Oregon Inlet bridge, is closed to public entry.

Ramp 1 - Ramp 2 (Coquina Beach Area)(1.2 miles)

Status:The beach is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.

Ramp 2 - Ramp 4 (2.4 miles)

Status:Currently Ramp 2 is open to Ramp 4.Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 15th,Ramp 2 will close to ORV use as part of the annual village closures in front of heavy use pedestrian areas, i.e., Coquina Beach.North of Ramp 4, the beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for approximately 2.4 miles.

Ramp 4– Oregon Inlet (Bodie Island Spit: 2.0 miles)

Status:The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.8 of a mile south Ramp 4. A resource closure on the ocean shoreline precludes ORV and pedestrian access to Oregon Inlet.South of the closure there are two "limited access" areas (south of the resource closure to the inlet and along the western shoreline near the bridge) for a total of approximately 0.6 of a mile for pedestrian only, accessible by boat.

Hatteras Island (Ramp 23 South to Hatteras Inlet; 42.8 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary:22.1miles open to ORVs and pedestrians;14.3 miles open to pedestrians only;0 miles of "limited access";6.4 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.

Status:The beach is closed to ORV access in front of the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo. A resource closure located 0.1 of a mile north of Ramp 23 precludes ORV access to the north.In addition, the annual seasonal village closures will go into effect on Sunday morning, May 15th at 6:00 a.m. through September 15, 2011.

Ramp 23 - Ramp 27:(4.3 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 4.3 miles between Ramp 23 and Ramp 27.

Ramp 27 - Ramp 30:(2.1 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.1 miles south of Ramp 27 and 0.5 miles north of Ramp 30. There is no "limited access" open between the resource closures.

Ramp 30 - Ramp 34:(4.3 miles)

Status:The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 4.3 miles between Ramp 30 and Ramp 34.

Ramp 34 - Ramp 38:(3.9 miles)

Status:Currently, the beach in front of Avon Village is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 3.9 miles.On Sunday morning, May 15th at 6:00 a.m., the annual seasonal village closures will go into effect through September 15, 2011 at which time there will be ORV access for approximately 0.4 of a mile south of Ramp 34.The beach in front of Avon Village will then be open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.There will be pedestrian access for 3.9 miles.

Ramp 38 - Ramp 43:(6.0 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.9 of a mile south of Ramp 38 and 0.4 of a mile north of Ramp 43.There is pedestrian access 1.0 mile north of Buxton Village and from Buxton Village beaches south for approximately 2.8 miles to Ramp 43.

Ramp 43 - Ramp 44:(0.4 of a mile)

Status:The beach is open for 0.1 of a mile south of Ramp 43 and0.1 of a mile north of Ramp 44for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 44 - Ramp 45:(Ramp 44 to tip of Cape Point: 3.4 miles)

Status:Ramp 44 is open.There is ORV and pedestrian access for 0.5 of a mile south of Ramp 44.Cape Point is closed to ORV and pedestrian access.The Interdunal Road and Ramp 45 are open to ORV and pedestrian access.Salt Pond Road is closed.

Ramp 45 - Ramp 49:(SouthBeach: 3.4 miles)

Status:Ramp 45 is open.There is ORV and pedestrian access for 0.2 of a mile east and 0.3 of a mile west of Ramp 45.There is no through access between Ramp 45 and Ramp 49.

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian use for 1.9 miles northeast and 1.2 miles south of Ramp 49.There is pedestrian, but not ORV, access from the Frisco village line to 0.1 of a mile east of Ramp 55.

Ramp 55 - Hatteras Inlet: (Hatteras Inlet Spit: 2.2 miles)

Status:ORV and pedestrian access is open along the ocean shoreline from Ramp 55 south/west for 2.2 miles.The Pole Road is open to ORV and pedestrians.The Spur Road is closed to pedestrian and ORV access.Cable Crossing is open with limited parking for ORVs and soundside access for pedestrians.

Ocracoke Island (20.5 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary:7.5 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians;5.8 miles open to pedestrians only;7.2 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.

Hatteras Inlet (North Ocracoke Spit) to Ramp 59:(1.4 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.1 of a mile north of Ramp 59 where a resource protection closure precludes northern inlet access.

Ramp 59 - Ramp 67:(7.8 miles)

Status:The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for0.3 of a mile south of Ramp 59and 1.1 milesnorth of Ramp 67 where two full beach closures preclude through ORV and through pedestrian access.A total of approximately 5.8 miles of pedestrian access (via NC 12) is located between the two closures.

Ramp 67 - Ramp 70 (includes Ramp 68): (3.9 miles; includes Ramp 68)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 1.2 miles between Ramp 67 and Ramp 68. The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.5 of a mile south of Ramp 68 and 1.8 miles north of Ramp 70where a resource protection closure precludes through access.

Ramp 70 - Ramp 72: (1.8 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 72 to South Point:(2.6 miles)

Status:The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.6 of a mile south of Ramp 72 where a resource protection closure precludes access to the inlet.

Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened and endangered species and species of concern including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, colonial waterbirds (3 species of terns and black skimmers), and sea turtles. Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and pets.